Well, first thing is first, the RL's engine wasn't designed for a turbo to begin with, so adding turbos would create reliability problems.

Another thing is, turbo V6 do not belong in the luxury segment, for the luxury segment you need V8 or more.

 

The problem is honda has always suceeded in doing things their way (turbos im F1, NSX v6, N/A over turbo), that when they should finally conform, they are too stubborn to do so.

RL needs to be scrapped and re-styled first of all. It doesnt say "I look like a $50,000 car). The mechanicals are sound, it's just boring. Maybe give it a default RWD bias ala Atessa to make it sportier?

 

I think it's all in the styling of the car. The RL doesn't appeal to those that want to show off their newfound wealth. young professionals are, unfortunately, all about the bling, and an RL doesn't say blang blang. the RL, like the NSX, is more for the people that are comfortable with their wealth and don't have a need to show it off. honda's philosophy is more about efficient, solid, timeless, non-pretentious(sp?) design. thats one of the things I like about hondas, its just that it will not work for luxury vehicles, unless there are a lot of smart rich people, and it doesn't seem like there are too many.
Honda is also anti-V8. it's like they hate eveything about the V8 concept, what it stands for, and the stigma behind it. thats why the next NSX is planned to be a V10, they skipped V8 altogether. honda is like the punk child of the car world, never wanting to conform to the traditional standards, and more focused on making a point with all their cars. machine-minimum, man-maximum, thats one of their design slogans. honda engineers are idealists to the fullest extent, and proud of it.

 

how does that make sense? :eh:

 

i was drunk when i wrote that post and got too deep. but, i seriously think honda has something against just the stigma of V8's. if they do make one, i have a feeling it'll be a low displacement one. i think they'd make the RL a hybrid before they even consider a V8 for it.

 

i honestly like the RL alot, i mean to me it seems it's worth 50k

i saw two today and to tell you the truth on the road they look just as sharp and unique as a 50k mercedes

 

When Honda took almost ten years to change the previous RL they should of already had a V8 in the works. When the RL came out in 05 it should of had both engine options but Honda always wants to do stuff the hard way. I love Hondas but they need to get with the program, by already being the under dog to Lexus and Infiniti they need to see what they offer and one up them by offering more power, options for a cheaper price. Its going to be hard for Acura to try and dethrone Lexus.

 

LOL, Acura dethrone Lexus? So far Acura has gotten dethroned by Infiniti.

 

I agree, the new RL looks just as nice or expensive as a new Lexus GS, Infiniti M, BMW 5 series, Audi A6, and Mercedes E class although the E class does look a little more prestigious and expensive then its competition even though it is generally not as nice. I think the interior in the RL has them all beat. Some people may feel a 50K RL is too expensive but when you compare it to the competition with similiar options the RL is actually the better buy. It just has the problem of the previous RL being so lackluster and not selling well or being recognized. It is going to take a little more time with Acura to build up the RL nameplate like it did with the Legend for people to seriously choose it over its more well known competition when most buyers only shop for names and not what the car actually has and does. That is why people still spend close to 50K on weak 6 cylinder 5 series and E classes because the names have alot of respect

Honda/Acura has avoided v-8s in the past because they simply did not need them and also they are an enviromentally green company. Their v-6 were making almost as much power as their v-8 competition and getting good gas mileage and they were not really trying to compete with higher priced v-8 cars beside the NSX competing with Ferrari 348,355,360. Now Acura wants to go more upmarket and have more expensive larger or higher performing cars and they most likely will need to build a v-8 for that market as well as the v-10 going in the new NSX and possibly a larger sedan and sports coupe. Hybrid would be a bad idea because people do not associate hybrid with luxury, performance, and power, but fuel economy and at the higher power levels hybrids do not get great fuel economy and still cost more.

 

I agree, however, the 50k mercedes, particularly the E class, does not look like its worth 50k, especially when compared to GS430 and M45. However Mercedes can afford to make a bland looking car - it will sell because of the badge alone. Acura doesn't quite have the same level of prestige, so they must be a little more innovative to compete.